So we’re on a long break between the Sr. High week at White Mills Christian Camp and the North American Christian Convention, and it is a much needed break. So far, this is the first weekend we have stayed in the same city for more than one night, and the sleep is euphoric. The NACC will have four rejuvenated Milliganites.

This past week of camp was great. I got to meet Keith and Kevin Comp as well as Eric Groves. Keith and Kevin are twins – Kevin was the dean and Keith was the speaker. Eric Groves was the co-dean. What was so special about these guys? Apart from the fact that they were hilarious guys and invested fully in the development of the discipleship of the students at camp – they were the good friends of my youth minister, Derek Sweatman. Derek basically taught me everything I know about music, and he really got me involved in church throughout high school. He’s an amazing teacher and a wonderful friend. (Check out the link to his blog). Anyway, Keith spoke for the week, and he was incredible. Also, Rev. Barry Washington spoke in the morning, and his ministry at the Redeemed Christian Church in Louisville is one in which he is serving God without shame. Both of these men were amazing speakers and teachers of the Gospel. Lydia has already posted on the week, and I hope you can read what she has to say. I think the best part about the week, for me, was the quiet time. The dean, Kevin, felt it was necessary (thank God!) to give the students (as well as faculty) a full hour for quiet time. The time was guided at the beginning, but there was usually like 20 or 30 minutes of leftover time to just contemplate, read, or pray. I was extremely refreshed during this time. There is nothing quite as wonderful as stringing up a hammock and connecting with the Almighty Father through his Word.

I wonder why it is so hard to do this away from camp.

Why is it so difficult to spend time with our creator when we are surrounded by the chaos of our everyday life?

Why do we prolong our conformity to the patterns of this world?

I think we spend too much time trying to fit God into our lives. Maybe we should start fitting our lives into God. Why should he be a sliver of our time? I don’t know how to do it…maybe that means I need to delve more into scripture (I know that’s what I need).

Pray for the team. Pray for our bonding. Pray that we may love one another. Pray that we will be more in love with the Word of God. What is more, Pray that we are more in love with God Himself and his wonderful Son.

In the words of the late, great Rich Mullins, “And on this road to righteousness sometimes the climb can be so steep. I may falter in my steps, but never beyond Your reach.”

“May the God of Peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”

Amen.

-Johnny

CAMP TEAM BLOG

Camp Teams!

I never seem to post blogs on time or with any consistency. That being said, i’ve been on the road for 3 weeks, and this is my first blog entry. So far, we have been to Appalachian Christian Camp (Unicoi, TN), White Mills Jr. High Week (KY), and Silvan Hills Christian Service Camp (PA). These weeks have been excellent. I’m not sure what I can say on this post to describe the dynamics of each camp, so i’ll just split it up.

Camp ACC

Appalacian Christian Camp was an incredible week. It was the type of camp that allowed me to grow as a councilor, and we were encouraged to share in worship with the students rather than lord over them as an authoritative figure. Thomas and I had the privilege of rooming with a group of guys, and I had the honor of being a part of a family group with Kit Dodson, Kasey Bailey, and Lydia Parker. The content, worship, and leadership of this week was wonderful. The only downside to the week was that it spoiled us for the rest of the summer. I feel like I could go on about this camp, but I don’t want to ramble. Jesus Christ was glorified at this camp, and the focus of the week was nothing less than the Lord God Himself. One specific part of the week that was particularly encouraging was the time spent with mentally handicapped adults. The camp invited a group of these wonderful people from a local home, and the campers spent the morning with them. They played games, danced, sang, and ate with this group. Unfortunately, I had to spend this time preparing for a later activity that day, but I walked into the gym during their games, and I was completely awestruck by the selfless love the campers portrayed. I believe that, in that particular moment, I watched a group of campers serving none other than Jesus Christ. It was a beautiful picture. So…ACC was amazing

White Mills Christian Camp

This was an interesting camp…in a good way. It was a middle school week so…I was stretched. I normally dread dealing with middle school students. It is such an awkward stage in life. I personally hated the first part of middle school. So, needless to say, I was somewhat apprehensive about the week. Of course, I survived, and the week turned out to be really fun. We got to hang out with about 120 middle school students, and we were split into groups where we would talk about the night sessions or do memory work. It was a fun week. The kids were crazy at some points, but what middle schooler isn’t? I guess I have come to the point where I want to just deal with what comes my way without despairing over my situation. Anyway, the week was pretty good. On the more personal side, I was given the opportunity to play guitar with the band for the whole week. The amazing folks from Impact Ministries at UNC Charlotte led worship for the night sessions during the week, and their guitarist was unable to make it. I was asked to play, and I spent much of my time learning new guitar parts for various songs. I had a great time playing, and it was a wonderful experience to help lead the students in worship. The kids were great during the musical worship, and it was a blessing to worship with them while playing with the band. I hope that God was glorified through the music we played.

Sylvan Hills Christian Service Camp

Sylvan Hills was one of the most laid back weeks of camp I have ever been a part of, and it was incredibly relaxing. It was a high school week (which made it easier), and the students were so easy to get along with. They were a diverse, yet close knit, group of people, and their brotherhood and fellowship exemplified the unity in the body of our Lord. It is always good when we spend time together in worshipful relaxation. This was the first week that we were asked to do the YIM workshops (if you don’t know what they are, they are basically lessons created by the amazing genius of Kit Dodson and Curtis Booher). I really enjoyed presenting them. They are full of great teaching about the Beattitudes and the Christian disciplines (plus they just have some sweet games to go with them). If you come to the NACC, you will be able to see the workshops in action. Anyway, the week was filled with worship, lessons, great food, fellowship, ultimate frisbee, and ping pong. It is wonderful to know that God can be glorified through time spent with one another. I am grateful for the ease and unity throughout the week.

So, that is is the story thus far…White Mills Sr. High week is up next. Therefore, we are in Louisville yet again (down the street from the biggest church I have ever seen in my entire life).

Please pray that we are attentive to the campers, that we are open to service of any kind, and that we are brought to the point of reliance on God so that we may see his power in our depravity. Pray that we will consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds, that we will persevere in the trials, and that we will grow through our perseverance.

Thank you for your prayers and support. I hope that, as we are traveling, Jesus Christ is glorified through the relationships that we build and that we are closer to living his prayer that we may be one body – that the world may know through our brotherhood that God has sent Christ and that he has come to redeem us. All glory to Christ through our love and through the unity of the Church.

Love,

Johnny

P.s. – Thomas and I will keep you posted on our ping pong mania. We have become fanatics of the game, and our skill is quickly growing. Challengers are welcome!

It has been a long time…

So…I haven’t updated this in about 5 months. I think I really need to continue this. Not because anyone reads it, but I think it helps to write stuff down. 

This semester has been absolutely crazy, and, until it is over, it will only get crazier. 

I have no Idea what to write at this point because it has been so long. I am taking this class called “Spirituality in Everyday Life.” Probably the best class I have ever taken or ever will take. The class requires about a book a week. Check the list, adn read them if you haven’t they are incredible:

Living Jesus, Luke Timothy Johnson

Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God, Gordon Fee

Testament of Devotion, Thomas Kelly

The Way of the Heart, Henri J.M. Nouwen

How to Become a Saint, Jack Bernard

Discipleship (Volume 4), Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina, Michael Casey

New Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton

This list (i actually may have missed one or two) is what we have read thus far. We will also be reading another Nouwen, something by Desmond Tutu, Chacour, and I think one more. Take a look at this list and enjoy. These are incredible reads. 

Take your time on Merton. It will scramble your brain. 

-Johnny

Mondays, Oh I Hate Mondays!

So I’m sitting in my room, eating Twizzlers (fearing the possible bowel obstruction), and listening to the Travel Channel and Family Guy in the background.  It’s rather boring. 

I have to say it is extremely difficult to find any motivation to do anything productive. I figured that in my junior year I would be motivated even more than usual. I enjoy the reading and all that when I actually do it, but even now I’m putting off Medieval Lit. reading. 

Does anyone else feel like this?

Johnny

Whatever happened to Alf?

Ok. Here’s the game. Leave a comment saying your favorite TV show that is no longer running new episodes. Mine is in the title.

Nothing like some Rob, John, JPJ, and Jimmy

I’ve been recently obsessed with the Zeppelin discography. What a great band. Bonham is probably THE revolutionary drummer (stylistically) of the 1970’s. Anyway, Enjoy.

 

 

we’ll see if this works.

 

-Johnny

He has made everything beautiful in its time…

So, i haven’t blogged in like a month and a half or something like that. I guess this means I can never join the cool club or something. I’m back in Ohio where it’s boring as CSPAN. I had a good time in GA (Thanks to the Wilmer family, I was able to live and work there for a month or so). I also went to Isle of Palms, SC last week. it was awesome. I love hitting the beach in the summer. I don’t even like the beach (i.e. the ocean, the sand, etc) but i love the atmosphere and the relaxed vibe ocean towns have. The house we stayed in had this spiral staircase that led to the roof so you could look at the stars and whatnot. The last night i went up there and watched the sunset and the stars for a good hour or so. It was incredible. considering I had taken Alka seltzer, i may have been hallucinating, but i saw a shooting star and watched some lightning in the distance for a while. I love being able to sit back and admire everything that isn’t made by us. 

God is an amazing artist.

Listen…

Listen…

Road Trip!

Ok so…the votes are cast, and the people have spoken. Actually Kurtis is the only one who suggested anything, and it was all rather…well…kurtis posted it! Anyway here’s the soundtrack for my ten hour trip. it’s quite extensive. I tried to get stuff from my iTunes that has previously been overlooked. The forma for the list is as follows…

Band: Album

The Beatles: Love

Andrew Bird: Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs

Band of Horses: Everything All the Time

The Beatles: White Album

Bob Dylan: The Best of Bob Dylan

Bob Marley: Mix 

Jon Foreman: Spring and Winter EPs

New Folder: Home Recordings

Minus the Bear: Planet of Ice

U2: October and 3 song from Boy

Sufjan Stevens: A Sun Came!

Wilco: Summerteeth

That should last me 10 hours I think. Let me know what you think! Likes, Dislikes, or roaring Approvals are all welcome. Fun fact about one artist that I learned in Humanities 202S – Bob Dylan is really named Robert Zimmerman, but he liked the poetry of Dylan Thomas (Modernist) that he incorporated his name into his own Pseudonym. Just in case you were unaware. 

-Johnny

 

2 Posts in the same week?! I must be bored!

So I’m coming to Atlanta on Thursday. Should be a lame trip. Any suggestions for some Road Trip Tunes? I got ten hours of I-75 to waste away. Let me know what you got. No country, rap, or dubbed over Abednego tracks (Kurtis). 

You know, I’m excited about the move to the ATL. To be honest, though, I will miss my family up here. I really need a job and i am extremely excited and grateful to have one, but the thing i’m most looking forward to (not sucking up at all i swear) is the church. I can’t wait to get some good, relevant teaching at CCB. That’s where it’s at. all my friends in GA, you need to visit Christian Church Buckhead. Great place.